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PRIME MINISTER
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP
BOUGAINVILLE PEACE TALKS
Leaders from all the major Bougainvillean factions will meet in Cairns today to
discuss ways of resolving the six year old conflict on Bougainville. The PNG
Government has endorsed the meeting and asked Australia to facilitate it.
The Australian Government is providing a venue and the necessary security
arrangements for this meeting. This will allow leaders to discuss freely the
future of their island and propose ways of settling the conflict there which
could then be taken up in discussions with the PNG Government.
The Australian Government will not be a participant in the Cairns talks.
The Australian Government strongly supports a settlement and stands ready
to assist in restoring the economy on Bougainville, particularly the restoration
of education and health services as soon as circumstances permit. I am
pleased that the Commonwealth Secretariat has expressed its readiness to
assist in the Cairns talks.
But it is only Bougainvilleans themselves, in conjunction with the
PNG Government, who can create a lasting solution to the conflict.
The issues involved cannot be settled by force. The PNG Government has
said that peace can be brought to Bougainville only through a political
settlement. I have sent a message to the participants urging them to make the most of
the opportunity which these talks provide to demonstrate that they are truly
committed to peace on Bougainville and to examine new ways of resolving
the conflict and restoring security and prosperity to the island.
CANBERRA 14 December 1995
Keating, Paul
Period of Service: 20/12/1991 - 11/03/1996
Find more information on Keating, Paul on the:
Release Date:
14/12/1995
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
9886
Document:
00009886.pdf
1 Page(s)
Released by:
- Keating, Paul John
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP BOUGAINVILLE PEACE TALKS
9886